1
2
a
: to have a preference for
choose one car over another
b
: decide
chose to go by train
1
: to make a selection
finding it hard to choose
2
: to take an alternative
—used after cannot and usually followed by but
when earth is so kind, men cannot choose but be happy—
J. A. Froude
J. A. FroudeSynonyms
Examples of choose in a Sentence
Each year thousands of college students choose volunteer-service trips over beach bumming during their spring breaks and summer vacations.
—Edward M. Kennedy, Time, 22 Sept. 2008
I had been invited to choose certain things that I might want from the house, but although there were indeed a couple of things that I would have liked, I was withheld from making the trip …
—Alice Adams, "Why I Write,"
in The Story and Its Writer, edited by Ann Charters, 1987
… as an instructor at New York University he chose to live by himself in lodgings that for the time must have been very expensive …
—William Styron, This Quiet Dust and Other Writings, (1953) 1982
Any summary I might try to write for the rest of the novel would be worthless and I don't choose to waste my time at it.
—Flannery O'Connor, The Habit of Being, 1979
The political party chose a leader.
They chose her as the team captain.
We've chosen a different time to go.
He was chosen because he's qualified for the job.
She was chosen from a long list of people.
He chose his words carefully.
Which shirt would you choose?
How do I choose when there's so much available?
Let everyone choose for themselves.
You can choose from among a number of alternatives.
Edward M. Kennedy, Time, 22 Sept. 2008
I had been invited to choose certain things that I might want from the house, but although there were indeed a couple of things that I would have liked, I was withheld from making the trip …
—Alice Adams, "Why I Write,"
in The Story and Its Writer, edited by Ann Charters, 1987
… as an instructor at New York University he chose to live by himself in lodgings that for the time must have been very expensive …
—William Styron, This Quiet Dust and Other Writings, (1953) 1982
Any summary I might try to write for the rest of the novel would be worthless and I don't choose to waste my time at it.
—Flannery O'Connor, The Habit of Being, 1979
The political party chose a leader.
They chose her as the team captain.
We've chosen a different time to go.
He was chosen because he's qualified for the job.
She was chosen from a long list of people.
He chose his words carefully.
Which shirt would you choose?
How do I choose when there's so much available?
Let everyone choose for themselves.
You can choose from among a number of alternatives.
Recent Examples on the Web
Facing a fourth-and-goal from the 10, the Hurricanes chose to kick a field goal to cut the deficit to 42-38 but never got the ball back.
—Manny Navarro, The Athletic, 1 Dec. 2024
While McBride’s personal identity played a role in choosing politics, the decision to run for Congress came after McBride’s late husband was diagnosed with cancer.
—Rachel Schilke, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 30 Nov. 2024
Trump won the election and, in turn for Kennedy’s support, chose him as his pick for the next secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services.
—Christy Piña, The Hollywood Reporter, 30 Nov. 2024
Consider it a one stop shop with hundreds of great coffee roasters to choose from.
—Alaina Chou, Bon Appétit, 29 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for choose 
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
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Manny Navarro, The Athletic, 1 Dec. 2024
While McBride’s personal identity played a role in choosing politics, the decision to run for Congress came after McBride’s late husband was diagnosed with cancer.
—Rachel Schilke, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 30 Nov. 2024
Trump won the election and, in turn for Kennedy’s support, chose him as his pick for the next secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services.
—Christy Piña, The Hollywood Reporter, 30 Nov. 2024
Consider it a one stop shop with hundreds of great coffee roasters to choose from.
—Alaina Chou, Bon Appétit, 29 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for choose
Dictionary Entries Near choose
Cite this Entry
“Choose.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/choose. Accessed 3 Dec. 2024.
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